Cloth spreading device



7 May 30, 1944. w. H. SHIELDS CLOTH SPREADING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1942 4 Shee"cs Sheet 1 y 30, 1944- w. H. SHIELDS 2,350,071

; CLOTH SPREADING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1942 4 Sheats-She et 2 Y5 X5- 0 6% a.vfim. m & nfi km 6 1 w gun A & h 6 s b 4 by I 3 w o R .3 I 2 M n May30, 1944. w. H. SHIELDS CLOTH SPREADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1942 3 7 1O 8 8 m n 9 w X i o o M 8 a M I! HQ s 1 8 8 s II a M w 7 7. i M 8 i- L: a s m r t 6 3 m I II... l I M a w in H". Fnw v P I R w 8 n a o 9 5 y 4- w. H. SHIELD S ,350, I

CLOTH SPREADING DEVICE Filed Mrch 11, 1942 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE CLOTH SPREADING DEVICE Wendell H. Shields, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application March 11, 1942, Serial No. 434,260

24 Claims.

This invention relates in neral to a spread v ing and. feeding device for use in the textile industry wherein cloth in a long tubular form is spread into two parallel sheets and fed away from the machine to a second machine which may perform another operation thereon.

While the particular use to which this machine has been put in practice has been to receive the cloth from a dye vat and feed it to a drying machine, it is to be understood that this use as explained here is merely'by way ofillustration and that the cloth may be either dry or wet and it may be fed either to a drying machine or to any other place where a subsequent operation is to be performed thereon. However, for the purposes of description it will be assumed that the tube of cloth referred to has come from a dye vat, is still damp and is to be transferred to a drying machine.

In the textile industry it is common practice to weave or knit cloth in considerable lengths in a bottom of the machine before it is fed away.

therefrom, it is a further object of the invention to provide some means for maintaining the tube straight and untwisted so that the seam or .wale

thereon will at all times be straight.

Furthermore, since the machine to which the cloth is fed, whether it be a drying machine or other type. will have independent means thereon to positively feed the cloth through the machine,

it is a still further object of the present invention to provide means whereby the rate of feeding the cloth from the spreading device may be regulated and adjusted to be synchronized with the rate of speed of the machine to which the cloth is fed so that the speed of the two feeds will be substantially the same to prevent wrinkling or stretching of the cloth.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will appear more fully as the description pro-f ceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said inventiion, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particu larly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain means for carry- 6" ing out the invention, said means constituting however, but one of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings wherein like refer-j 1 ence numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views;

Fig. l is a shortened side elevational view 0 the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view look ing at'right angles to the machine as shown in 16 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec tion through the lower part of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an under plan view of Fig. 3 with a part thereof in section to more clearlyvdisclose parts of the device. I Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, part, vertical section, and part elevational view of the spreading and feeding means at the top of the I machine.

and 9-9 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section at the top of one of the concentric tubes showing the device which is placed thereon while the tubeof:

cloth is being initially placed on the machine before feeding away therefrom.

Inasmuch as the tubes of cloth are of consid erable length, it is desirable to provide an elongated tube commonly known to those skilled in the art as a can and indicated in the drawings by the numera1 I. This can is usually some 20 or 30 feet in length and may have a diameter of I some 30 inches or more. The length of this can makes it necessary for it to extend below the floor line 2 and in practice this' can is provided with a collar 3 at the top end thereof provided with a flange 4 which rests on the floor 2 and 5 suspends the can therefrom.

outer and inner concentric tubes 5 and 6 respectively, both of which extend from below the bottom'of the can to a considerable distance above the top thereof.

said concentric tubes.

In the lower end of the can there is provided .-a bottom 8 which has a boss 9 extending down- 'wardly therefrom and is secured to the lower:

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken r'espectively on the planes of'lines 5-6, 1- -1, 88

Centrally located within'the canl are the two;

Centrally located within the: inner concentric tube 6 is the elongated shaft 1 v which extends both above and below either of end of the outer tube by means such as the screws as indicated in Fig. 3. Below the boss 9 is located a spider Hi the hub of which extends downwardly and is flanged outwardly as at H into two parts so that it may be clamped to the inner tube 6. A plurality of brackets I2 extend upwardly from the outer edge of the spider l9 and are secured attheir upper ends to the lower end of the can I. The boss 9 of the bottom 3 extendsdownwardly to the. upper side of the hub jofIt he-spider IlJ and is annularly recessed at that point to permit the sprocket wheel I 3 to be secured thereto. It will thus be seen that a rotation of the sprocket wheel l3 will rotate the bottom 8 and outer tube 5 which is connected therewith. The can I and the spider It! will not be rotated because they are clamped to the inner tube 6 and secured to the lower end of the can I.

At one side of the machine the bracket lZa is modified. slightly from the other brackets l2 and has an arm M extending outwardly therefrom terminating, in a vertical cylindrical. portion l5 adapted to have .a shaft Iii-pass vertically therethroughto the upper end of which is secured, a universaljoint I'L To this joint is securedarod l8 which extends upwardly and, by means of a second universal joint l'9is connected to a vertical rod 29 extending upwardly through the floor and is connected at its upper end to the wheel 2 l. The lower end of the vertical shaft l6 isprovided with a sprocket wheel 22 aroundwhich and the sprocket wheel 13, a chain 23 passes. Thus far,

it. will. beseen, that a rotative movement of the wheel 2| will be transmitted to the respective shafts .29 and. i8 and to the sprocket wheel 22 which-,bymeans-of the chain 23,, will rotate the sprocket. wheel It and the various parts connected therewith as above mentioned.

Also clamped to the lower end of the inner tubefi is the housing 24 which has an elongated cylindrical portion at one, side and the outwardly rounded portion 25 through which the shaftv motor.. The-plate 32 has. onits underside aplur ality ofg-roovesj35 which receive corresponding tonguesren. the upper side of the support 33 so that thermotor may be moved lengthwise of the plate 32. for -a purpose presently to be described.

The'lower portion" of the cylindrical part of thehousing 2 has: an inside diameter such that the shaftlwill' fit snugly therein thereby forming a bearing for the lower end of said shaft. The lowerend. of. this cylindrical part hasran annular inwardly extending ofiset to provide a short downwardly extending portion 35 of a smaller outside diameter than the remaining cylindrical 38 is fitted snugly around the bottom end of the housing 24.: andfastened securely thereto, the upper 'endof -the bottom; housing bearing against thesliouldeuwhich is formed between. the larger and smaller portions at the bottom of the housing 24.

A worm gear 39 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 1 and within the part 38 of the bottom housing, while adjacent the worm gear is located the worm 49 mounted on the horizontal shaft 4| extending in a horizontal plane through the bottom of the housing. At one end, the shaft 4| extends outwardly a considerable distance beyond. the. housing and has secured to its outer end'a collar 42-. Spaced from said collar is a split pulley 43 adjacent the opposite side of which is located another collar 44. Between the outer col- I211 42 and the outer side of the split pulley 43 is a compression spring 45 so that in normal operation the, spring will urge the pulley to its largest diameter.

'I'he motor's l'has a shaft 46 extending therethrough on the outer end of which is located a pulley 41 and around which, and the split pulley 43, passes a belt 48. Thus, far, then, it will beseenthat.- the motor 34, through-the belt 48 and the worm and worm gear drives 40 and 39, will rotate the shaft 1. As the motor 34 is moved longitudinally of its support 32 by means of its sliding connection therewith as above explained, either toward or away from the housing, the shaft 1 will be rotated either at a. slower or faster rate,

adjacent thereto in a vertical plane on the end of a threaded shaft 55. The shaft is supported: in the lower end ofthe bracket 49- and threadedly engages a bracket 56 located on the lower side of the .plate 32 to which the motor 34 is :directly secured. A rotation of the threaded shaft 55 through its threaded connection with the bracket. 56 will move the plate 33 together with the motor 34; thereon in a. direction either toward or away from the housing around. the shaft 1. to. thereby adjust and regulate the speed of rotation oflsaidshaft.

The upper end of the vertical shaft 52 is provided with a. universal joint 51 which is also connected to. the lower end of a rod 58 which extends upwardly and is connected with a vertical rod 59 through a. second universal joint 60. The rod 59 extends upwardly through the floor 2 and is connected at its upper end to the wheel El. Rotation of this wheel will be transmitted through the rods 59 and 58 to the beveled gears and to the threaded shaft 55 to thereby regulate the speed of rotation of the shaft 1.

The upper end of the outer concentric tube 5 has resting thereon a bearing member 62 which fits snugly inside of the outer tube and has an inner diameter to snugly receive and form a bearing for the inner tube 6 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The member 62 is flanged outwardly as at 63 at its upper side which flange rests on the upper edge of the tube 5. Immediately above the member 63 is another bearing member 64 which rests on the flanged portion 53 of the lower member and also has an inner diameter such as to forms. bearingsurface for the inner tube 6'. A circular saucer-shaped disc 65 having a central opening-"therein to snugly receive the inner tube 6 is located. immediately above the member 64 and may be either secured thereto'or formed integrally therewith. Inthe flange 63 there is provided a plurality ofrecesses to receive the downwardly extending pins 66 which are secured to the upper bearing member 64. At a plurality. of spaced apart points through :the upper circular edge of the saucershaped member 65 there are provided means, such as the spaced upwardly. extending fingers 91, within which the arms 68 ture of the two parts an opening is provided tov receive pins 10, which pinsextendalso through theupwardly extending members 61 to thereby permit the arms 68 to pivot about said pins.

Centrally located within the disc 65 is a substantially circular ring'll, the outer periphery of which is horizontally forked to provide an annu-.

lar groove 12. The free ends of the fingers 99 are received within the groove 12, and it will be obvious that a vertical movement of thering H will impart a rotative movement simultaneously and in equal amounts to all. of the arms 59. If the ring moves downwardly the upper ends of the arms will move inwardly, and if the ring moves upwardly the arms will move outwardly. At spaced apart points through the ring H vertical rods I3 pass downwardly'andare secured. to the saucer-shaped disc 65. Compression springs 14 are coiled around these pins 13 between the disc 65 and the ring H to urge said ring in anupward direction andthereby urge the arms 68 outwardly. From the description as given with respect to the connection which the arms 6B and the disc 65 have to the outer tubular member 5, it will be evident that a rotation of said tubular member will also cause. a rotation of said fingers and, as will again be pointed out hereinafter;

as the tube of cloth moves upwardly around the arms 68 which are in contact with the inner side thereof, a rotation of the tube and the arms 58 will also impart a rotative movement to the tube of cloth so that if it comes to the arms in a twisted condition, the tube 5 may be. rotated in shaft 1 and is connected thereto by means of the 7 coupling 18. The beveled gear '19 is secured to the upper end of the rod "and will be rotated by means of the coupling when arotative movement is imparted to the shaft 1.

A housing is provided which consists of the two similar cast members 80 as shown in Figs. 5 and '7. The lower ends of these cast plates are just short of being semi-cylindrical and, have an inside radius substantially equal to the outer radius of the tube 6 so that when the plates are placed together, one on each side of'the upper end of thetube, :they will fit snugly against the tube but will not quite meet. Spaced upwardly from thebottom edge of each plate is integrally cast a part of a spiderfll which is adapted to. The

rest upon the upper end of the tube 5.

A short lower end of each plate is flanged outwardly as at 80a to permit bolts to be inserted therethrough the tube 8. member are the bosses 82 and 82a which are cast integrally therewith so that rods 83 may be inserted therethiough. The bosses 82 on each member are longer than the ones at82a and are of such length that when the members 80 are placed together the ends thereofwill be spaced apart exposing aportionof the rods 83. On the exposed portion of each of these rods are rotat-' ably mounted a large gear 84 and a' smaller gear 85. At the central part of each face an opening is provided to receive the shaft 86 near each end of which, within the housing; is rotatably mounted a beveled geartladapted to be inmesh'with the beveled gear '19 secured to the top of the shaft 11. A bushing am is located centrally of the spider H to form a bearing forthe upper part of the shaft 11. i

Integral with each' of the beveled gears 81 and on the inner side thereof are located the gears 88 which are held spaced'apart by means of the spacer member 89. The two gears 84 and are also integral so that a rotation'of onewill cause a rotation of the other. Each gearllfl is in mesh 1 each of the cast plates 80 and are secured thereto and conform substantially to the configur'a-' tion of the edges of said cast plates. These plates 99 are wider than the housing membersand ex- At the top of each of these lastnamed plates the slots 9| are provided whichextend toward the outer edge at tend:beyond them at .each side.

an acute angle to the horizontal. There are also provided four other plates=92 located in pairs at; each end of the housing. Each plate is pivotally' mounted at its lower end, by means of the pivot; pins 93; to the plates and are spaced apart a' sufficient distance sothat attheir upper ends a on the pulley 94 can be mounted therebetween Pin 95.

The lower A pulley 99 is mounted between the sides of the bracket Won the pin 98 for rotative movement,

while at the lower end of the bracket 91 itis provided with a hook I00; and a tension spring llll is'connected between said hook and the pivot the pully. 99 in a downpin 93 to normally draw ward direction.

Anendless belt so that its, outer run will move upwardly. .The

springs I M aid in tensioning the beltslllZ by pulling downwardly on the pulleys 99. It is to be noted that the pulleys 94 are so situated with respect to the plates 92 that the belts 192; in: passing. over the large pulley, will extend out-"i wardly therefrom. a 'short distance so that as clothis passed upwardly the outer run of each beltwill be able to contact theinner surface thereof and move itupwardly. The plates 92;

to clamp the plates in place at the upper end of Extending inwardly from each end of eachplate 92 is slotted al- I most vertically asat and a U-shaped bracket 91 islocated within the slot which has a pin 98 passing through its upper. spaced apart ends."

I02 which has at its inner side a number of teeth I93; is located at each side of the housing and passes around the smaller. gear 85 at each side thereof and around i the pulleys 94 and 99. Each belt is mounted' between which the pulleys 64 are mounted have means associated therewith whereby theyim-ay be moved inwardly toward each other or outwardly away from each other in equal amounts to, accommodate tubes of cloth having difierent' diameters; ,It is necessary at all times that, as the: cloth moves upwardly over the spreading means, the belts bear against the inner sides: of the cloth with sufilcient force to form the" two parallel sheets closely adjacent each other, but without stretching the cloth, and to insure that tubes'of cloth having different diameters will be spread an amount commensurate with its diameter and fed away from the machine,

and 'for this reason it has been necessary toprovide these adjusting means; This is also the prime reason for the tension springs IOI which constantlyexert a downward pull on the lower pulleys 99. When the plates 92 are moved outwardly a greater tension will be placed on thesprings, and likewise when they areimoved' inwardly, the springs will eliminate any slackness which may tend to occur in the belts.

In one of the housings 80 and centrally located with respect thereto there is provided an elongated vertical slot 104, and in the other housings 80 and opposite the slot H14 there is provided a plurality of vertically spaced apart' is slidably mounted by means of pins Ill to move longitudinally in the slots 9|. The pins l-H also pass through openings provided for that purpose in the plates 92 and when the upper ends of the links I66 are moved, the plates 92, together with the pulleys thereon and the belt, are also moved. To accommodate tubes of cloth of the largest diameter the pin ID! will be moved upwardly and inserted through the topmost opening I at which point the links will have been spread apart at their upper ends to move the plates 92 and the pulleys away from each other outwardly. Conversely, when the smallest'tube of cloth is to be operated upon, the pin I01 will be moved to its lowermost position at the bottom opening I05 to move the pulley 9'4- inwardly toward each other.

It is significant that the spreading and feeding structure'is made integral'so that it maybe lifted'bodily and removed from the top of the outer" tube 5. When this part of the device has been removed from the machine, the spreader arms 68 and the structure integral therewith may also be removed from the concentric tubes to permit the tube of cloth to be initially passed thereover to rest at the bottom of the can I. Inasmuch as the cloth, when coming'from the dye vat, will be damp and rather hard to handle it becomes advisable to place over the top of the inner tube 6 a cap somewhat like that shown in Fig. 10. This cap has a rounded upper surface H2 which is concave at its central portion as at H3. The cap is preferably of circular form and" has a bottom I I4 thereon spaced downwardly from the top in the form of a flange and has integral therewith a central circular portion H5 with an annular shoulder on its inassogo'z 1 ner surface substantially the samediameter as the tube 6 so that itwill fit snugly over the top- A' plurality of spacer members H6 are H 2 end thereof. vertically located beneath the top separate the bottom H4 therefrom. This cap,

being hollow, will permit air to be forced upwardly therethrough which will escape radially through the space between the top and bottom thereof.

Operation The operation of the device is substantially as follows. I I8, initially comes from the dye vat, the spreading and feeding device and the spreader arms will have been. removed from the upper ends of 1 the concentric tubes 5 and 6 and replaced by the cap shown in Fig. 10. The motor 35) is then started which operates the fan 21 so that a blastof air, either hot or cold, will pass upwardly through the tube 6 and radially outwardly throughthe cap on top thereof. The tube of cloth is then passed downwardly over the cap.

and the concentric tubes within the can, the air aiding in preventing the sides of the damp tube of cloth from sticking together and facilitating the initial placement of the cloth within the can for its removal therefrom.

After the tube of cloth has been entirely placed.

around the concentric tubes and within the can,

the cap is then removed and the saucer-shaped disc 65 together with its associated parts is placed in position to rest on the upper edge of the outer tube 5 and the spreading and feeding device is located over the inner tube 6 all as clearly shown and described with respect to Fig. 5.

Assuming that the cloth is to be fed to another This will cause in turn a rotation of the beveled gear 19, the beveled gears 81, the. gears 88 which are integraltherewith, the gears 84 and 85, and the belts I02. As before described, in order that the speed of feed away from this machine can be synchronized with the speed of feed of the machine to which it is fed, an operator may rotate the wheel 6| to move the motor 34 toward or away from the vertical shaft at the bottom of the ma- 7 chine to vary the speed of movement of the belts H12.

The upper end of the tubeof cloth will then be brought upwardly around the spreader arms 68 which, by reason of their connection with the ring H and the compression springs M, will. accommodate a tube of cloth of any diameter, within predetermined limits, and will maintain it in a tubular form as it moves upwardly thereover. The cloth is then moved upwardly to'the belts I62 which will havepreviously been regulated to accommodate the particular size tube of cloth to spread it into two parallel sheets and feed it away from the machine to the rollers H1.

It will be evident that since the cloth is initially placed in the device in a haphazard manner, it

may have become con'siderably'twisted and it becomes necessary to provide means to maintain the cloth in a straight and untwisted condition as it is fed to the rollers H7. The details of this mechanism have previously been described and may be controlled by operating the wheel 2! When the tube of cloth, indicated at which may cause a-rotation of the disc65 and the spreader arms 68 connected therewith. Since these arms bear outwardly against the inner surface of the tube of cloth, a rotation thereof in either direction will cause a similar rotation of the cloth and such continuous regulation will maintain it in an untwisted condition as it is fedto the spreading and feeding means and away from the machine.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have conceived novel means for use in the textile industry for handling cloth in tubular form as it passes from one machine to another. As above stated, in this particular instance I have described the invention, for pur poses of illustration, as handling the cloth as it comes from a dye vat in a damp condition and as it is fed to a drying machine. While it has been operated satisfactorily in practice on these particular machines, it is conceivable that the cloth may be fed away therefrom to other machines which may perform other operations thereon.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one here explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as'my invention: l

1. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, the combination of an elongated tubular can, a support from which said can is suspended, outerand inner concentric tubes located within said can longitudinally thereof and extending from below the bottom to above the top thereof, the inner tube'terminating above said outer tube, a bottomfor said can rotatably. mounted thereon and secured to said outer tube, a plurality of arms locatedatop said outer tube and extending radially' outwardly therefrom, said tube of cloth adaptedtorpass upwardly within said can and around said, arms, a pair of endless belts located atop said inner tube in a vertical plane at diametrically opposed points, means for moving the outer run of each belt upwardly to thereby spread the tube of cloth and feed it away from the machine, and means for rotating said bottom, outer tube and arms connected therewith whereby the cloth may be maintained in a straight and untwisted form.

2. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, the combination of an elongated tubular can, outer and inner concentric tubes located within said can longitudinally thereof, said inner tube terminating above the outer one, a plurality of arms mounted adjacent the top end of said outer tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the outer end of each arm being substantially the same distance from the center of the tubes, a pair of endless belts mounted in a vertical plane adjacent the top of said inner tube above said arms at diametrically opposed points thereon, means to move the outer run of each belt upwardly, said tube of cloth passing upwardly around said arms which contact the inner surface of the cloth to maintain it in tubular form, and upwardly around said belts which also contact the inner surface thereof to spread it and feed it away from the device, and means connected to said outer tube to rotate said arms to thereby maintain the cloth in a straight and untwisted form.

3. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, the combination of an elongated vertical can within which the cloth is first located, inner and outer concentric tubes located centrally within said can and within said tube of cloth, a plurality of radially extending arms mounted on said outer tube, the outer ends thereof contacting the inner surface of the cloth to maintain it tubular as it passes upwardly thereover, means above said arms to spread said cloth into'two parallel sheets and to move the cloth upwardly and away from the device, and means to'rota-te said outer tube and arms thereon as said tube ofcloth moves thereover to maintain the cloth in 'a. straight and untwisted form. i

4. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, the combination of an elongated vertical can within which the cloth is first located, inner and outer concentric tubes located centrally within said can and within said tube of cloth, a plurality of radially extending arms mounted on said outer tube, the outer ends thereof contacting the inner surface of the cloth to maintain it tubular as it passes'upwardly thereover, and means above said arms to spread said cloth into two parallel sheets and to move the cloth upwardly and away from the'device.

5. The combination of elements defined, in claim 3, combined withmeans-to varythe speed at which the cloth is fed' away 'from the device. l v

6. The combination of elements defined in claim l, combined with means to-vary the speed at which the cloth is fed away from the device. i

7. In a tubular cloth spreading andfeeding device, spreading and'feedingmeans comprising, a housing, two spaced apart plates secured, one ateach side, to the inner edge portions of said housing, a pair of plates pivotally mounted on and between said spaced'plates ateach side thereof, a pulley rotatably mounted between the upper portions of each of said pairs of 'plates, -a second pulley rotatably mounted between thelower portionsof each of said pairs of plates, an endless belt locatedaround each ofsaid upper and lower pulleys to contact the inner-side of said tube of cloth to move the cloth upwardly, and means in said housing to move said belts.

8. The combination of elements defined in claim 7, combined with means to adjust the distance apart of said first named pulleys.

9. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, spreading and feeding means comprising, a housing, a pair of plates at each end of said housing spaced apart and pivotally mounted adjacent thereto, a pulley rotatably mounted at the upper end and between each pair of plates, a second pulley rotatably mounted at the lower end of each pair of plates for longitudinal movement in substantially a vertical direction, an endless belt located around the upper and lower pulleys at each end of the housing having the outer run thereof moving upwardly and contacting the inner surface of said tube of cloth to thereby move it away from the machine.

10. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, comprising spreading and feeding means located within the tubular cloth and engageable with the inner surface thereof and means independent of the movement of the cloth for driving said spreading and feeding means.

11. The elements of claim 10 in combination in which the speed of said means for driving is variable relative to the movement of the cloth.

12. The elements of claim 10 in combination combined with pre-spreading means engageable with s'aid cloth in advance of said spreading and feeding means. p p

13. The elements of claim 10 in combination combined with pre-spreading means engageable with said cloth inadvance of said spreading and feeding means, saidpre-spreading means being adjustable relative to said spreading and feeding means in a direction rotatable of said tubular cloth.

14. The combination. of elements defined in claim; IOucombinedrWith meansto rotate said tube of cloth before it, reaches the spreading andfeeding means to maintain it in a straight and un-. twisted condition.

15. The elements of claim 10 incombination combined Withmeans for positively adjusting the width of saidspreading and feeding means.

16. Ina tubularcloth spreading and feeding device, a belt mounted for rotation over pulleys, means for. positively supporting saidbelt and pulleys within saidtubular cloth and independent thereof with said belt in. engagement with the inner surfaceof said cloth and means independent of the movement of the cloth for driving said belt.

17. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, an elongated supporting member supported near one 'of its ends, a cloth spreading and feeding means mounted at the free end of said supporting member and including a belt passing over pulleys and engageable with the interior of said tubular cloth, a driving shaft extending parallel with said supporting member, means, for driving said shaft and means operated by said shaft for driving. said belt.

18. The elements of claim 17 in combination in whichthe speed, of saiddriving means is variable.

1 9. The elements of. claim 17 in combination combined. with means for positively adjusting the;

width of saidspreading and feeding means.

20. The elements of claim 17in combination combined with a second elongated supporting member mounted concentric with said first supporting member, a ,pre-spreading device mounted on said second supporting member in ad Vance of the spreading and feeding means and means for rotatably' adjusting said supporting members relative toeach other during operation of the machine. 7 I v 21. The elements of claim 1'7 in combination combined with a pre-spreading device in engagement With the cloth in advance of said spreading and feeding means and means for rotating said pie-spreading device relative to said spreading and feeding means during operation of the machine.

22. The combination of elements defined in claim 17 combined, with means to rotate said tube of cloth before it reaches the spreading and feeding means to maintain it in a straight and untwisted condition. 7 1

23. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, the combination of elongated vertically disposedinner and outer concentric tubes around which said cloth passes, means on the outer tube to maintain the cloth tubular as it passes thereover, and means above said first named means mounted on the inner tube to spread the cloth into two-parallel sheets and to feed said cloth upwardly including an elongated shaft located within the inner, tube and extending thereabove,

two endless belts located in a vertical plane at diametrically opposed points adjacent the top of said shaft, the outer run of each belt adapted to move upwardly and contact the inner surface of the tubev of the cloth, means to rotate said shaft, and means connecting said shaft to said belts. V V

24. In a tubular cloth spreading and feeding device, spreading and feeding means to spread the cloth into two parallelsheets and feed it away from the machine comprising, a housing, pulleys mounted adjacent each end of said housing, a belt extending around each of said pulleys to. contact the inner side of the tube of cloth, means to move said belts simultaneously, and means to rotate said tube of cloth before it reaches said spreading and feeding means to maintain it in a straight and untwisted condition.

WENDELL H. SHIELDS. 

